Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Truman Show

In the Panopticism and in The Truman Show there is this idea of power. There is ultimately one power source in both. The effect of Panopticism as told to us in the article is “to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning power. So to arrange things that the surveillance is permanent in its effects even if it is discontinuous in its action…” This effect is one that we see in The Truman Show. There is this routine that Truman is going through on a daily basis even saying hi to his neighbors. But he does not realize that his next door neighbor has a camera in his trash can that is very visible to him. This effect has a strong one on Truman until there are to0 many signs that he can’t do anything but ask questions.This idea of power we see with the creator of the show and how he felt he had the ultimate power over Truman and his world. Ask Jake explains we see how he was willing to and even attempted to kill Truman in the ocean. Along with that everyone in this world has power over Truman and his actions. They could do or say anything at any point in time and negatively or positively affect his day.